Nancy Kellogg, M.D., a physician at UT Medicine San Antonio and medical director of the Center for Miracles at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital, urges parents and caregivers to take a timeout when overcome with stress.

SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 1, 2011) — The holiday season can be a stressful time for families, especially those with small children. Sadly, some children throughout the community will not have a happy holiday season; instead they will become the victims of abuse.

That is why CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital’s Center for Miracles, led by Medical Director Nancy Kellogg, M.D., a physician at UT Medicine San Antonio, teamed up with the San Antonio Police Department and Sen. Carlos Uresti’s office Dec. 1 to remind families that even during this stressful time of year there is hope and there is help out there for families.

Timeout is just as effective for parents“So many times over the holidays we may all begin to feel that extra holiday stress. That’s normal and there’s nothing wrong with that, but when you feel like you are at your wits end… take a “timeout,” said Dr. Kellogg, who also is chief of the Division of Child Abuse Pediatrics in the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center. She sees patients at UT Medicine San Antonio, the faculty practice of the School of Medicine at the Health Science Center.Related link:Helpful resources from the Center for Miracles

“Don’t take that frustration out on your child or the child you may be caring for. Simply place the child in a safe area and walk away for a few minutes, gather your thoughts and then go deal with the situation,” she said.

Center for Miracles is a child abuse assessment centerThe Center for Miracles at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital is the only child abuse assessment center of its kind in South Central Texas. The multidisciplinary team of child abuse experts works directly with Child Protective Services to provide the most timely and accurate medical assessments of children who are suspected victims of abuse and neglect. Sadly, since opening its doors five years ago, the Center for Miracles team has seen or assessed close to 8,000 children.

Valerie De Alba, a mother who has been helped by the Center for Miracles, shared her child’s story of abuse and urged other parents to take a timeout.

In addition, Police Chief William McManus talked about the number of child abuse cases San Antonio Police have been faced with, and State Sen. Carlos Uresti discussed resources available to families.

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UT Medicine San Antonio is the clinical practice of the School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. With more than 700 doctors — all faculty members from the School of Medicine — UT Medicine San Antonio is the largest medical practice in Central and South Texas, with expertise in more than 60 different branches of medicine. Primary care doctors and specialists see patients in private practice at UT Medicine’s clinical home, the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC), located in the South Texas Medical Center at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio 78229. Most major health plans are accepted, and there are clinics and physicians at several local and regional hospitals, including CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, University Hospital and Baptist Medical Center. Call 210-450-9000 to schedule an appointment, or visit www.UTMedicine.org for a complete list of clinics and phone numbers.